Pro Sports Blogging » Eric O’Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com
24/7 Real Sports TalkTue, 28 Jul 2015 02:53:39 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2Rangers Battle Back to 500http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/11/14/rangers-battle-back-to-500/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/11/14/rangers-battle-back-to-500/#commentsThu, 14 Nov 2013 22:53:10 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=102171After a truly nightmare inducing start to the year the New York Rangers have significantly began to turn their season around after Halloween. A combination of factors including finally being able to play at Madison Square Garden, players finally coming back from injury, and the players finally being more comfortable in the new system have [...]]]>

After a truly nightmare inducing start to the year the New York Rangers have significantly began to turn their season around after Halloween. A combination of factors including finally being able to play at Madison Square Garden, players finally coming back from injury, and the players finally being more comfortable in the new system have all figured into this turnaround. Of particular importance to the Rangers was getting forward Carl Hagelin back. Hagelin’s speed was badly missed to begin the year and he has been impressive in all areas of the game thus far. He has been dominate on the forecheck, very good at possessing the puck, and has even contributed a few goals himself. Ryan Callahan coming back from his finger injury earlier than many expected has also allowed the Rangers to role four more balanced lines which has led to noticeable offensive production that wasn’t happening to start the year. Lost in the shuffle somewhat is that the Rangers are also getting some pretty stellar performances in goal. Henrik Lundqvist has recovered from whatever injury he had last month and Cam Talbot has been very good as a backup. The Rangers actually went a nine game stretch where they gave up two of fewer goals a game.

Besides the injuries though one simple truth can be immediately noted when watching this team: they simply are playing better. Mats Zuccarello has vastly improved his game making notable contributions every night, which includes sticking up for himself and his teammates despite the obvious size disadvantage he has against most opponents. Brad Richards has played better after cooling off for a few games and is still miles above what he was like last year. Perhaps the most notable improved player has been Chris Kreider who is noticeable every shift. He has had some bad luck in getting on the score sheet but he his improvement in his physical and puck possession skills is what is setting him apart. And though he took a dumb and borderline dirty penalty at the end of the win against the Panthers, his willingness to be stick up for teammates is admirable. It’s no coincidence that Zuccarello, Richards, and Kreider all play on the same line together. Another player who has also noticeably stepped up is Ryan McDonagh. His offensive skills are better than anything Rangers fans have seen out of him thus far in his career and he still has been a dominate force defensively.

All is not perfect in Rangersland however. While they recently had two three game win streaks the wins didn’t exactly come against the best teams in the league. They should have found a way to win against the Devils Tuesday night but didn’t. While the offense is getting better, it’s still ranked 24th in the league. Rumors have popped up of the Rangers possibly trading for Oilers youngster Nail Yakopov who has fallen out of favor with the Oilers coaching staff. Michael Del Zotto continues to be inconsistent at both ends of the ice. However, some good news for the Rangers is that Rick Nash practiced with the team Wednesday for the first time in a month and though there is still not timetable, can’t be far away from getting back in the lineup. The Rangers have an interesting week ahead with games against Montreal, LA, Boston, and Dallas. Check back next week for updates.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/11/14/rangers-battle-back-to-500/feed/0Rangers Struggles Continuehttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/10/22/rangers-struggles-continue/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/10/22/rangers-struggles-continue/#commentsWed, 23 Oct 2013 02:12:11 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=101944Alain Vigneault was brought to the Rangers to increase offensive production. The Rangers are certainly seeing plenty of offense in their game, the problem is that they’re the ones being scored on. The Rangers are 2-5 to start the year and while it isn’t unreasonable for them to get off to a slow start the [...]]]>

Alain Vigneault was brought to the Rangers to increase offensive production. The Rangers are certainly seeing plenty of offense in their game, the problem is that they’re the ones being scored on. The Rangers are 2-5 to start the year and while it isn’t unreasonable for them to get off to a slow start the manner in which they are losing is troubling. Three of those five losses were games with scores of 9-2, 6-0, and 4-0. Everyone from casual fans to experts said that the Rangers blueline and goaltending would be the most reliable facets of this team. So far the defense has failed to adjust to the new system and is partially to blame for bloated scores. More troubling however, is that for whatever reason the goaltending hasn’t been there for the Rangers this year. Lundqvist was cited as one of the players whose pads would be shortened the most this season when the league mandated smaller pads. Also in practice today Vingeault said that Lundqvist had been dealing with a minor nagging injury and was given the day off. Those are two very vague reasons and they do not excuse what has been a less than stellar start. Complicating matters is the fact that backup goaltender Marty Biron struggled heavily in the early go of the season and decided to retire Sunday morning. Biron had a 16 year career and was well respected by both teammates and media members. He gave the Rangers a solid four years of service and will be remembered fondly by fans too.

After the loss against the Devils on Saturday the Rangers decided to bring up Chris Kreider, Cam Talbot, and Brandon Mashinter to fill some holes the lineup open due to a rash of unfortunate injuries. Two games into the year Rick Nash took an elbow to the head and has been placed on injured reserve for an indefinite time. This is the big man’s second concussion in under a year. The coaching staff has been vague and not optimistic when giving updates on his health. Carl Hagelin is still unable to return until 11 games into the year but is reportedly progressing well. Captain Ryan Callahan broke his thumb blocking a shot in the win over Washington and is out three to four weeks. While Nash was being counted on to be the Rangers main offensive weapon, the loss of Callahan might hurt more because of the leadership and heart he plays with. The most surprising thing that has plagued the Rangers may be the lack of competitiveness in their games. The coaches called them out on it after the loss this weekend and said they’d work on it this week. Hopefully for the Rangers the new players can seize the moment while also lighting a fire under the players already here and not producing. Some good news for the Rangers is that everyone besides the Penguins is off to a terrible start in the Metropolitan division. If the Rangers can weather the storm and get some players back from injury they’ll be in decent shape. It’s impossible to win a championship in October, but you can lose one.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/10/22/rangers-struggles-continue/feed/0Rangers 2013-2014 Season Previewhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/10/03/rangers-2013-2014-season-preview/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/10/03/rangers-2013-2014-season-preview/#commentsThu, 03 Oct 2013 23:23:06 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=101655 The last time we saw the New York Rangers they were shaking hands with the Boston Bruins in Madison Square Garden as their season came to a disappointing end. After a dominant year in 2011-2012 the Rangers were expected to be one of the elite teams in 2013. Unfortunately things did not go according [...]]]>

The last time we saw the New York Rangers they were shaking hands with the Boston Bruins in Madison Square Garden as their season came to a disappointing end. After a dominant year in 2011-2012 the Rangers were expected to be one of the elite teams in 2013. Unfortunately things did not go according to plan as the Rangers struggled mightily to score goals on a consistent basis. Although they did come a spirited comeback in the playoffs against the Washington Capitals the Rangers were bounced rather easily in the second round by the Bruins, much earlier than the experts predicted. This lead to the firing of John Tortorella and the hiring of former Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vignealt. Vignealt is noted for his Canucks teams that routinely were among the league leaders in offensive production and the Rangers’ brass is expecting that he can help solve this team’s scoring woes.

Coach:

Alain Vignealt was brought in not just because of his success, but also because he is as different from John Tortorella’s fiery demeanor as you can get. Allegedly players complained to Rangers management about Tortorella and General Manager Glenn Sather decided the locker room had tuned the coach out and a change was needed. This point was brought up again just two days ago when Tortorella admitted in an interview (ironically in Vancouver where he was hired to replace Vignealt) that he hasn’t talked with Brad Richards, a player he loves, in months. While Vignealt may be easier on his players he does have some drawbacks. His Canucks teams routinely bowed out early in the playoffs despite dominating the regular season and could appear soft at time.

Forwards:

In many ways Brad Richards may be the key to the Rangers season. He went from being the prized free agent two summers ago to benched in the playoffs this season. Many assumed he would be bought out this offseason but the Rangers decided to keep him for one more year. The Rangers decided to move him to left wing this year and are buying into the fact he can turn return close to his usual form. So far this preseason results have been mixed. Unless he wins the Hart Trophy this year expect him to be bought out at the end of the season. Also of note is the fact that Carl Hagelin and Ryan Callahan will begin the season on the injured reserve after offseason shoulder surgeries. This has led to the Rangers calling up prospects Jesper Fast and JT Miller. Both players impressed in the preseason and while it is assumed they will be sent down once Callahan and Hagelin return, they could play their way into staying with the big club.

Defensemen:

The biggest thing for this group is the return of Marc Staal. Staal missed the second half of last year after taking a puck to the eye that many feared could end his career. Those worries were put to rest as Staal looked very good in preseason and is now thankfully wearing a visor. John Moore is a young player that came over in the Marian Gaborik trade at the deadline that has also been very impressive in the preseason due to his skating ability and offensive upside. All in all the blue line looks very good for the Rangers.

Goalies:

Lundqvist is at worst a top three goalie in the league. I know he had two bad preseason games and that the NHL mandated goalie pads be shorter this year, but I’m still counting on him to be nominated for a Vezina at the end of the year. Marty Biron is a backup goalie that is loved by his teammates and will be counted on to play a lot to give Lundqvist a break around the Olympics. Goaltending is the least of Rangers worries

Power play:

If there is one immediate place the Rangers needed work on it’s the power play and Vignealt knows it. Fixing the power play will go a long way into fixing this team’s offensive problems. Vignealt has said his power play will focus on quick passing and then puck and bodies to the net. Expect better things out of the unit this year.

Physicality:

At times last year the Rangers seemed to struggle with sticking up for their teammates and establishing a “no crap from anybody” mentality. I’m not saying the Rangers have to lead the league in fighting like they did in 2011-2012 but they do need some people who can account for the physicality that was lost when Prust went to Montreal. Look for Dominic Moore and Benoit Pouliot to help in this department.

Prediction:

The Rangers are implementing a new system, start the first ten games on the road, and are going to be without Callahan and Hagelin for at least ten games. I can see this struggling a little out of the gate. That being said, once this team gets everyone back and on the same page I can see this team going on a run around late November/early December. I don’t think they will catch the Penguins but I do see them finishing second overall in the Metropolitan division.

Be sure to check back next week as the Rangers continue their quest for the Stanley Cup!

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/10/03/rangers-2013-2014-season-preview/feed/0Rangers Vs. Capitals Playoff previewhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/02/rangers-vs-capitals-playoff-preview-2/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/02/rangers-vs-capitals-playoff-preview-2/#commentsThu, 02 May 2013 20:45:24 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=99505Here we go again. For the fourth time in the last five years the Caps and Rangers will meet in the playoffs. And this year it may end up being the most exciting. The Caps and their captain spent most of the year reliving their past as they struggled through the worst division in hockey [...]]]>

Here we go again. For the fourth time in the last five years the Caps and Rangers will meet in the playoffs. And this year it may end up being the most exciting. The Caps and their captain spent most of the year reliving their past as they struggled through the worst division in hockey and experts told everyone they were done. Then they roared back. Ovechkin came form 11 goals down to lead the league in goals by scoring 23 goals in 23 game. The power play started clicking and the Caps won their division looking like offensive juggernauts once again. The Rangers struggled through a strange and inconsistent season themselves before turning things around at the trade deadline. They finished the last month on a hot streak and enter the postseason with a clean slate. Both teams are coming in relatively hot, and both teams have players that aren’t afraid to mix it up, particularly the two captains. This series could end up being the most entertaining of the first round. Given the two cities and all the super stars, I’m wiling to bet it will be the most talked about for better or worse. The Capitals are clearly the better offensive team but the Rangers have arguably the best goalie in the league on their side.

Matchup to watch:

Alex Ovechkin vs. Dan Girardi and Ryan Mcdonagh

While Ovechkin is on a hot streak right now, the Blueshirts top defensive pairing are no slouches. Both Girardi and Mcdonagh are work horses playing nearly 27 minutes a game. Both will be physical against the big forward and even chip in some offense as well.

Players to watch:

Brad Richards – I assume no Ranger is happier about a clean slate then Richards who had a very poor year, but an excellent last two weeks. He can be a dominant force in the playoffs and get all his fans back. He has showed som chemistry with Nash and Zuccarello that has made them a dangerous line.

Nicklas Backstrom – The Washington Center pissed a large portion of the season due to injury and it’s not a coincidence that he and Ovechkin started heating up at the same time. The versatile center is the engine for one of the most productive line in hockey. Shutting him down will help cut down scoring chances for that line. He also will probably benefit for the extra attention being paid to his line mate and may see some open ice.

The Power plays- The Capitals had the best unit in the league and their forwards are not afraid to shoot the puck. The Rangers have the 15th best kill in the league, way down from last years stupendous numbers. The Rangers have the 23rd best power play, but they have been much improved since the trade deadline and the Caps have the worst penalty kill in the league. It’s common sense that taking penalties is bad for your team, but these number really put added emphasius on smart play. One high stick could swing the whole series. Just ask a Capitals fan.

The X Factor

Injured Rangers – Ryan Clowe, Marc Staal, and Brian Boyle are all out with injuries for now. All are with the team for now but only Boyle and Clowe are likely to return to the lineup this series as Staal’s vision is still an issue for him. Boyle and Clowe are big physical players that can frustrate an opponent and chip in some offense when needed. If Staal does miraculously return it would be a huge boost for the Rangers as he was one of the best blueliners in the game before he got hurt.

The Pick:

I like the Capitals in six. They’ve been humbled for most of the year but got their swagger back at just the right time. Sometimes a team is at it’s best after it goes through some adversity and this year it certainly looks that way. The Rangers have been so inconsistent all year it makes me uncomfortable trusting them in the playoffs. That being said, the Ranger and Lundqvist in particular should be talented enough to steal a game or two. If the injured players return and the offense steps up, it could easily go the other way.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/02/rangers-vs-capitals-playoff-preview-2/feed/0What is Wrong with The Rangershttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/03/17/what-is-wrong-with-the-rangers/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/03/17/what-is-wrong-with-the-rangers/#commentsMon, 18 Mar 2013 02:16:28 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=98847Last week when I was here it appeared the Rangers had righted the ship. Nash was scoring, Lundqvist was returning to Vezina form, and things were looking up for the slow starting Rangers. Well then this week happened. They won against Washington 4-1 and then dropped three in a row, including stinkers over Buffalo and [...]]]>

Last week when I was here it appeared the Rangers had righted the ship. Nash was scoring, Lundqvist was returning to Vezina form, and things were looking up for the slow starting Rangers. Well then this week happened. They won against Washington 4-1 and then dropped three in a row, including stinkers over Buffalo and Winnipeg. You may recall a few weeks ago the Rangers had another three game losing streak as well. However, this losing streak is cause for a different kind of concern. The team seems disinterested, tired, and without confidence. They haven’t even played a complete game over that span, getting outscored 9-2. Even more confounding is that after losing to Buffalo they faced off in an important match with the Jets who they are battling for the last playoff spot. They then proceeded to lose 3-1 in a dispirited contest. Worse is that it’s starting to show. After the Buffalo loss Tortorella let loose with one of his epic press conferences in which he said “We sucked at a time you can’t suck.” The Rangers then followed that up by sucking against the Jets and Penguins. Some people are calling for Torts to be fired but I don’t think it’s quite that time yet. This is a team that missed that made to two wins from the finals last year he has some time. But things need to change soon. I wrote a week ago about the Rangers being in contact with Mats Zuccerello. I think it’s time to call him up. Chris Krieder has six goals in eight games since being sent down, I think it’s time for a call up. Those moves may not solve everything but at least those are two offensively minded players who have shown a willingness to stick up for teammates. Another, and perhaps more drastic move, is tweaking the system. Free the skill guys up and incorporate a less defensive minded game plan into the mix. The bottom line is this: to make the playoffs the Rangers are probably going to need about 55 points. Right now they have 28 points and have 21 games remaining. So that means they need at least 14 wins over that span. They don’t quite need to be the Blackhawks, but they can’t go on another extended losing streak. If I’m Torts or Ryan Callahan I call a team meeting and tape that to a sign in the dressing room. 21 games. 27 Points. Also the remaining one game against the Jets, two games against the Flyers, and three games against the Devils better be played with some damn intensity. Oh hey look at that in the span of this week they’re going to play all three of those teams. I guess we’ll get our answer on where the Blueshirts stand soon.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/03/17/what-is-wrong-with-the-rangers/feed/0Next Man Uphttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/03/06/next-man-up/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/03/06/next-man-up/#commentsWed, 06 Mar 2013 20:38:20 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=98733While I went on my Spring Break and took a break from posting, I did not expect the Rangers to also take a break from playing hockey. But then they dropped four in a row in an ugly fashion. They were pushed around, out grinded, and looked generally lost on the ice. Basically, the complete [...]]]>

While I went on my Spring Break and took a break from posting, I did not expect the Rangers to also take a break from playing hockey. But then they dropped four in a row in an ugly fashion. They were pushed around, out grinded, and looked generally lost on the ice. Basically, the complete opposite of how last years team played. Just when it looked like the Rangers were done for, they pulled it together and have gone into a three game win streak. Nash returned and they dominated Tampa Bay, they persevered with Buffalo and then came back against the Flyers. However, even this win streak has had it’s low points. During the Buffalo game Patrick Kaleta sent Brad Richards head first into the boards.

While Richards was able to return later in the game, he had to sit out against the Flyers. Kaleta was given a five game suspension and I’m sure somebody on the Rangers will take a run at him next time they play. Hopefully Richards is ok and it pleased me to see Callahan and Del Zotto go stick up for him. Last years Rangers wouldn’t have tolerated that at all and thankfully somebody stuck up for a teammate after nobody did anything for Mcdonagh after he was hit against Montreal. A scarier situation however was waiting for the Rangers last night against Philadelphia. The puck was deflected and caught Marc Staal in the eye in what has to be one of the scariest injuries I’ve seen. To see Staal immediately fall to the ice and flail around let’s you know that he was in some serious pain. He was not taken to a hospital which is good, but the Rangers have had no update on his condition since then. Hopefully he is ok.

With some Rangers going down, the onus shifts to other players to step up. After returning from his injury Rick Nash looks like the player the Rangers traded for. J.T. Miller played well as the second line center in Richards absence last night and Lundqvist has been stellar in net recently. Additionally the Rangers are trying to make some depth moves . GM Glen Sather is meeting with representatives from Mats Zuccerello to see if they can sign him and they claimed defenseman Roman Hamrilik off waivers today. While playing in the KHL Zuccarello contributed 28 points in 36 games which definitely respectable. Hamrilik is 38 years old now so his production isn’t what it was during most of his career. However, he is likely a better option than Bickel or Gilroy as a 6th defense man and his big shot could be useful on the power play. The Rangers will try and continue the winning ways as they enter a particularly grueling section of their schedule with almost no off days. The Rangers currently hold the 8th playoff spot by only one point. The Blue Shirts next three games are against the Islanders, Ottawa, and Washington.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/03/06/next-man-up/feed/0Rangers Restarthttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/02/09/rangers-restart/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/02/09/rangers-restart/#commentsSun, 10 Feb 2013 01:51:56 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=98292Going into Tuesday’s dispirited 3-1 loss against the Devils the Rangers knew they needed to make some changes so that they could get back to last season’s winning ways. The Rangers then made a number of changes to the roster. First, they traded forward Mike Rupp to Minnesota for forwards Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri. [...]]]>

Going into Tuesday’s dispirited 3-1 loss against the Devils the Rangers knew they needed to make some changes so that they could get back to last season’s winning ways. The Rangers then made a number of changes to the roster. First, they traded forward Mike Rupp to Minnesota for forwards Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri. The Wild were looking for a big enforcer to protect their stars while the Rangers were in desperate need of some depth. Powe is a defensive forward who was second in the league last year in block shots. He’ll fit in. Palmieri is a prospect the Wild liked but developed a bad attitude and needed to be shipped out. Sometimes a change in scenery is all a guy needs so the Rangers hope they can straighten him out. The other move the Rangers made was calling up highly touted prospect J.T. Miller from the AHL. While the team did not play particularly well as a group against the Devils, Miller stood out as not being overwhelmed and even received some praise from Torts in the loss. The coach went on to say that if young guys continued to play well, some veterans might see their time reduced. The next game against the Islanders saw Brian Boyle benched (see below). Torts even said he had considered benching another forward who he would not name but said he had five goals. Translation: Marian Gaborik. As you may guest, the motivation was there for the Islanders. Miller scored is first career goal not even two minutes into the game and added another later. Gaborik sniped a beautiful goal in response to almost being benched. Rangers captain Ryan Callahan returned to the lineup and showed no signs of weakness. It was a great group effort by the Blueshirts and one that should give them a restart on the season. They have added depth and scoring, as well as holding veterans accountable to light a fire under the team. While many initially though Miller would only stay up for five games so as to not count against the salary cap, his play thus far makes it likely he’ll be up for much longer. The Rangers next four opponents are the Lightning, Bruins, Islanders, and Capitals.

Top Shelf Performers:

Marty Biron- As a backup goalie it is expected that by plugging you in the lineup that the team is still capable of winning without a sharp drop off in play. The Rangers won his game and he made a few nice saves against a high scoring Tampa team. What more can you ask for?

Chris Krieder – He returned from his injury and has two points in two games. He looks noticeably better and should start meeting some of the admittedly high expectations fans had of him this season.

Anton Stralman – Dan Girardi has a lower body injury that that while not serious, has caused the big man to miss some time. Stralman has seen his minutes increase in the meantime and is doing excellent job making sure the defense doesn’t suffer.

Disappointments

Brian Boyle – Give Boyle credit for saying he deserved to be benched and approaching it with the right attitude. But the truth is has not had a good start. He is pushed off the puck easily and pretty invisible when he’s on the ice. He badly misses Prust. I expect him to bounce back.

Rich Nash- I hate to put him here because he has been quite good, but the fact is he only has two goals on the season. He was brought in to add more offense and as good as he is, the puck hasn’t hit the back of the net yet. Former Ranger Artem Anisimov has four goals already for Columbus. I expect Nash’s luck to change soon though. He’s too good for it not too.

Highlight of the Week – Miller’s first goals as a Ranger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucYAYrCPSAA

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/02/09/rangers-restart/feed/0Rangers Show Improvementhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/30/rangers-show-improvement/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/30/rangers-show-improvement/#commentsThu, 31 Jan 2013 03:29:11 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=98013What a difference a week makes. After two quality wins over the Maple Leafs and the Flyers the Rangers have gotten back to a 3-3-0 record and appear to be shaking off the rust. As well as the Blue Shirts have played these past two games though, the injury to Ryan Callahan puts a damper [...]]]>

What a difference a week makes. After two quality wins over the Maple Leafs and the Flyers the Rangers have gotten back to a 3-3-0 record and appear to be shaking off the rust. As well as the Blue Shirts have played these past two games though, the injury to Ryan Callahan puts a damper on win streak. Callahan took exception to the way Maxime Talbot was crashing the crease and pulled him aside to drop the gloves. Unfortunately the awkward tugging motions by Talbot seems to have hurt the Ranger captain as he immediately reached for his shoulder and skated off the ice. Callahan did not return and got an MRI Wednesday that showed a subluxation of his left shoulder. The Rangers got lucky because the time table for his return now is only 10-14 days instead of the prolonged period initially feared. People will understandably blame Talbot for the injury but there was nothing he could do about it. Callahan was his usual scrappy self and sometimes when you stand up for your teammates you get unlucky. Give Talbot credit for stopping when he realized something was wrong with his dance partner. The hard truth the Rangers now must deal with is that given the condensed schedule this season Callahan is likely to miss a minimum of six games. If you’ve ever watched a Rangers game you don’t need me to tell you how big a loss that is. “What a play by Callahan!” is basically Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti’s personal slogan. The Rangers will need to find someone, whether it’s an AHL kid, a free agent, or via trade to play for a while. JT Miller is a prospect who was an AHL All Star this year and may see a call up. If he can come back from his injury soon and reasonably well this may be a time for Chris Krieder to see more minutes. The next four games are against the Penguins, Lightning, Devils, and Islanders. This is where the veteran leaders of this team like Nash, Richards, and Lundqvist need to carry the team.

Top Shelf Performers:

Henrik Lundqvist – He’s let up three goals the past two games. None have been his fault. A defensive lapse and a deflection lead to two goals against the Leafs, while a perfect shot lead to one against the Flyers. He is coming into form.

Michael Del Zotto – He played well against the Flyers, scoring a goal and an assist. He looks better defensively and has cut down on turnovers. I think we can continue to expect big things this season.

Disappointments:

Brad Richards — Offensively he’s coming around but he continues to lose faceoffs in big spots. That has got to improve if you’re a first line center.

Carl Hagelin – He was demoted a line form the start of the year and took a stupid too many men on the ice penalty yesterday which upset Torts. I do have faith he’ll come around but thus far his play has not been anything to write home about.

Highlight of the Week:

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/30/rangers-show-improvement/feed/1Ranger impressions of week onehttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/25/ranger-impressions-of-week-one/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/25/ranger-impressions-of-week-one/#commentsSat, 26 Jan 2013 02:43:00 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=97886Suffice to say the first week of the 2013 season sis not get off to the start the Rangers or their fans wanted. The team is 1-3-0 after facing Boston twice, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. As was the trend for most teams sloppy play and shaky defensive has plagued the team thus far. While every team [...]]]>

Suffice to say the first week of the 2013 season sis not get off to the start the Rangers or their fans wanted. The team is 1-3-0 after facing Boston twice, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. As was the trend for most teams sloppy play and shaky defensive has plagued the team thus far. While every team has those issues, the Rangers do need to find their game soon. I think that has been reflective of their inconsistent play this year: adequate in game one against Boston, lousy against Pittsburgh, very good in the rematch against Boston, then flat against the Flyers. Even so, the Flyer game is only game you look at and say, “wow, they should have won.”

The next four teams the Rangers play are the Maple Leafs, Flyers, Penguins, and Lightning. My guess is Biron starts one of those games, possibly against the Leafs. All in all it is not totally surprising the Rangers are in this position given the combination of

A. short training camp and no preseason

B. New faces in key positions and

C. The Rangers are generally a team that gets off to slow starts. I think it takes another game or two before they start to gel.

Top Shelf Performers:

1. Marian Gaborik

After doing nothing the first two games Gabby busted out in a big way by picking up a hat trick, including the game winner in OT in the rematch with the Bruins. He also made a nice pass to Pyatt on the lone Rangers score against the Flyers.

2. Rick Nash

I know he hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard yet, but I think so far he’s shown why the Rangers wanted him so bad. He shields the puck so well with his legs that he almost always finds a way to get a shot off. He also ends up playing on the penalty kill, which is an over looked part of his game. It’s only a matter of time until he gets going.

Disappointments:

1. The Power Play

Yuck. 2-18 so far and that’s including a number of 5 on 3′s. The team really needs to consider adding a power play coach, I know Torts has said he doesn’t want one but this team looks worse on the power play than when they are at even strength.

2. Chris Krieder

The rookie sensation of last years playoff has not looked so hot in the early going of the season. He was benched for the Flyers game and Torts admitted he was thinking of sending him down to get his legs underneath him. I think he will have another game or two to try and find his game, but he better improve quickly or else he’s headed to Hartford.

Highlight of the Week

Gaborik ‘s Hat Trick

That first goal is among the pretties you will see this year and the last one shows you how quick his legs are. Great effort by #1o

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/25/ranger-impressions-of-week-one/feed/0Rangers Season Previewhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/18/rangers-season-preview/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/01/18/rangers-season-preview/#commentsFri, 18 Jan 2013 17:17:47 +0000Eric O'Connellhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=97692With only a little more than 24 hours until the puck drops on the NHL season now is the perfect time to preview the season for the New York Rangers. The Rangers will play a 48 game season against only eastern conference teams. This also includes more divisional games, such as playing the Penguins and [...]]]>

With only a little more than 24 hours until the puck drops on the NHL season now is the perfect time to preview the season for the New York Rangers. The Rangers will play a 48 game season against only eastern conference teams. This also includes more divisional games, such as playing the Penguins and Flyers five times each. The key to this season will be never going on a prolonged losing streak, staying healthy, and finding ways to rest certain players. Henrik Lundqvist started in 62 games last year. In an effort to balance keeping him fresh and having the best players on the ice, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get around 37- 40 starts this season. The signing of Marty Biron seems even more important now in this short season than it did back in the summer. Looking over the Rangers schedule and considering the talent this team has, I can see this team ending up with a record like 33-9-6. Keep in mind that this season Pittsburgh has a fully healthy Sidney Crosby, so don’t be surprised if the Rangers don’t necessarily get the one seed again.

Here are some other news from the Rangers:

Key Losses:

Artem Anisimov

Brandon Dubinsky

Ruslan Fedotenko

Brandon Prust

Key Additions:

Rick Nash

Jeff Halpern

Taylor Pyatt

Arron Asham

Matt Gilroy

While the Rangers definitely addressed their biggest need by adding a top flight goal scorer in Rick Nash, they did sacrifice some defensive help. While none of the lost players were superstars like Nash, Dubinsky, Prust, and Fedotenko all played on the Penalty Kill. The Rangers are going to need to find people to replace them so that the defense that was a major strength of this team doesn’t suffer.

Three players who I think are going to be key to watch are Carl Hagelin, Brian Boyle, and Michael Del Zotto. It appears today that Hagelin will be playing on the Rangers top line with Nash and Richards. He is going to be with too very talented players and could see a major boost in points if he plays well. Boyle is still going to be on the third line, but he is going to asked to play more defense this year to make up for the loss of Prust. Finally, the Rangers have signed Michael Del Zotto to a two year deal. Del Zotto took a major step forward last year but did struggle in the playoffs against New Jersey. I think the improvements he’s made defensively will be a key to the Rangers season. Coupled with his goal scoring ability he can become a star if he puts his game completely together.

Also of note the Rangers have bought out Wade Redden who will now become an unrestricted free agent. The lines on opening night will look as follows:

Hagelin – Richards – Nash

Callahan- Stepan- Gaborik

Krieder – Boyle – Pyatt

Asham – Halpern – Rupp

So call up your friends and get the snacks going cause NHL hockey is back.